Imminent IS terror attack foiled in Australia: Police

An imminent terror attack linked to the Islamic State “death cult” was foiled by the Australian police on Wednesday, which arrested and charged two men from Sydney, prompting PM to warn that the threat of terrorist attacks would get “worse before it gets better”.

The two accused - Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, from Iraq and Mohammad Kiad, 25, from Kuwait - were arrested in a raid carried out by the New South Wales Police at a house in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield on Tuesday, following a tip-off that they were planning an attack. They have been charged with preparing to commit a terrorist act, which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison. Police seized a machete, a hunting knife and a homemade flag associated with Islamic state along with a video of a man talking about carrying out an attack.

Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn said the men appeared to be planning to attack “using one of the items recovered (in raids), potentially a knife”.